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Roberto Azevêdo

Director-General

4 November 2016

Dear Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives,

I am pleased to forward with this letter the 22nd version of the Evolving Table on Cotton

Development Assistance (WT/CFMC/6/Rev.21) for review by Members in advance of the next

Round of the Director-General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC).

The updated version of the Evolving Table (ET) registers contributions from Australia, Brazil,

Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States, as well as from the Common Fund

for Commodities (CFC). I would like to underscore the significant support from Brazil, China and

India on the platform of South-South Co-operation.

In this new version of the ET, it is worth noting the completion of several projects that have

been registered in Part I which relates to "Cotton Specific Development Assistance", as well as the

notable increase in the number of new commitments in Part II, which lists "Agriculture and

Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance".

The commitments and disbursements of active operational activities in the latest ET are

highlighted as follows:

 In Part I, on Cotton Specific Development Assistance, the number of individual

beneficiaries increased to 31 from 29, whereas the total number of commitments

decreased to 35 from 37. The total value of commitments decreased to

US$280.7 million from US$294.8 million reported in the previous version. The

disbursement flows decreased by US$15.8 million to reach US$99.8 million. The ratio

of total disbursements to total commitments declined to 36% from 39% earlier.

 In Part II, on Agriculture and Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance,

the number of individual beneficiaries increased to 31 from 29, while the total number

of commitments increased to 67 from 46. The total value of these commitments

increased to US$4.1 billion and the disbursement flows increased by US$120 million to

reach US$1.8 billion. The ratio of total disbursements to total commitments declined to

46% from 51%.

. /.

WTO OMC

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I am also attaching the 14th version of the Table on Domestic Cotton Sector Reforms (WT/CFMC/21/Rev.13), reflecting new contributions from Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the continuation of the initiatives undertaken by Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. These updates show that the proponent countries continue with their efforts to implement reforms in their cotton sector.

The 26th Round of the DGCFMC is scheduled to take place in the morning of 23 November 2016. The sixth Dedicated Discussion of the Relevant Trade-related Developments on Cotton, chaired by Ambassador Vitalis, the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session, will take place back-to-back, in the afternoon of the same day.

The enclosed documents will form the basis for the 26th Round of Consultations of the Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton, which will be chaired by DDG David P. Shark on my behalf.

Yours sincerely,

Roberto Azevêdo